FEATURED ETSY SHOP - THE SIMPLE THREAD

Verona Upcycled Bag

by THE SIMPLE THREAD

The Verona Upcycled Bag is a versatile hand bag that I have made by hand using a cotton pillowcase in a red, orange, and fuchsia block pattern. The handles which have also been re-purposed were originally wooden hangers. To add comfort to each handle, I have added a leather grip that has been molded to the wood and double hand stitched.

WELCOME, Judy and her Etsy shop, THE SIMPLE THREAD.  When you pay a visit to THE SIMPLE THREAD, you will find fun, whimsical hats, as the main items of creativity, but also "upcycled bags", pom poms and headbands.

Let's take a moment to learn a bit more about Judy and her creativity by reading her interview below:

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I can’t remember not being an artist. I have always been making things. I did a lot of building and constructing objects as a small child. I also began sewing at eight. I received my first sewing machine for Christmas when I was twelve and it is the same machine I work on today. Throughout adolescence, I went through sewing spurts, mainly sewing with little formality. During my time as a sculpture major in college, I really developed my sense of planning and began to make my own patterns for various soft sculptures. After finishing college, I began feeling that the act of art making was selfish and an act of gluttony. So, I put aside my making for teaching art in an elementary school. Over the past several years of abstaining from the act of making work, I have begun to feel extremely repressed. This is what brought me to upcycling and making utilitarian objects such as bags, hats, and headbands. I am able to enjoy developing and construction again and ultimately I believe this will lead me back to making fine art.

The Prince Josiah Fleece Hat Size toddler

What better than a cozy fleece crown to keep your little prince warm on a cold winter's day. This ready to ship Princess Josiah is suitable for ages 1-3 with a 20" circumference, but please check your little prince's measurements to make sure it is just right for him. If you need a different size don't hesitate to convo me and I will make your prince a crown that is just perfect for him

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

Sewing is accessible at this time in my life with a little one and far easier then having a metal studio or working with wood. Plus, there is a level of immediacy and gratification that I am able to experience. This is much needed since I have been on a hiatus from art making for several years.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

Working through the concept and patternmaking.

The Princess Addison Fleece Hat Size toddler

What better than a cozy fleece crown to keep your little princess warm on a cold winter's day. This ready to ship Princess Addison is suitable for ages 1-3 with a 20" circumference, but please check your little princess' measurements to make sure it is just right for her. If you need a different size don't hesitate to convo me and I will make your princess a crown that is just perfect for her.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

I would choose a mango. I have never eaten one, but I have often peeled and sliced them for my family. This connects to my work because I do not use a purse or wear hats or headbands, although I have made them for others. In addition, I enjoy the color combinations and textures of the mango as well. This is where my inspiration in making accessories lies..with the patterning, color combinations, and textures that I am able to utilize or create.

Blue Fleece Pom-Poms

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?

I would have to say printmaking because I love the limitless processes.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

As artists we do not have a choice as to whether we should create because we must. It is up to us to be passionate about what we do and everything else will follow.

Thanks, Judy, for taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with everyone. 
 
To learn more about Judy and her delightful creations pay a visit to the links below.

TWITTER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - SALVAGED EXPRESSION

The Ugly Hat 1 Schizophrenic Sunspot


by

SALVAGED EXPRESSION

(Be sure to click on the photo above to see how this hat got its name)

Let's welcome, Althea and her Etsy shop, SALVAGED EXPRESSION! When you pay a visit to SALVAGED EXPRESSION you will find an eclectic mix of items to choose from....ranging from hats, supplies and vintage, jewelry, candles, other crocheted items and more. Before you head on over to SALVAGED EXPRESSION, let's learn a bit more about Althea and her creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I've been creating things in various mediums since I can remember. Occasionally things that would surprise my teachers (a paper spring cannon comes to mind) and continued to do so on my free time from childhood on. I guess I don't have much of a choice!

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

I don't necessarily limit myself to one thing, but there are mediums I always return to. Drawing has always been the backbone of my artsy inclinations. Crochet is practical, but also very artistic and allows me to try many different things. Candles I've just always made and enjoyed. I guess there's something about making a solid clean candle and then lighting it on fire. I get to make things that burn and don't raise your insurance! Recycling was kind of inevitable for me too. I work in the environmental field and haven't always had a lot of money. They go together very well!

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

Brainstorming, though that's more involved than the actual process sometimes! Half the time I'm just sitting around when an idea smacks into my brain like a bullet on reentry and won't let go until I've thought it out and plotted and schemed how to make it happen.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

The key lime! One because I like them, but also because it's a bit of a black sheep of the citrus family. Sometimes I feel like that, being a multidisciplinary crafter in a market where everyone talks about consistancy. A little cool, a little not, quirky, and hopefully pleasantly surprising.

Big Plarn Messenger Bag

(Be sure to CLICK on the photo to learn the interesting facts of this bag's creation!)

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?

I'm planning on taking up painting again soon, but for something I've never tried, I think spinning. There are some truely gasp worthy yarns out there, I even own a few and have a hard time coming up with a project worthy of their awesomeness. I'd love to make something like that, and then sell it so the project becomes someone else's problem!

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

Well someone can take whatever message they like when it comes to arts and crafts. That's part of the fun. That's really what I want people to have, along with each order is fun. Hopefully something that makes them feel a little bolder or to blend the person they want to be with the person they have to be.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Don't take advice from me? Just keep it fun. Whether you sell or not keep it fun, remember you're doing this because it isn't supposed to be work!

Thanks, Althea, for sharing your creations and thoughts with everyone. I find it amazing what you can create with recycled goods. It takes a certain type of creativity to come up with all those ideas.

If you'd like to see and learn more about what SALVAGED EXPRESSION has to offer, be sure to visit the links below. It is fun to read the descriptions and what the items were made from.

BLOG